Abstract: A printer for selectively printing on one or both sides of a web-shaped recording medium includes a paper turn-over apparatus in the paper conveying channel. The turn-over apparatus is a removable unit and can be changed from a turn-over operation for two sided printing to a parallel conveyance for one sided printing of two recording mediums. A conveyor that moves the recording medium through the printer has an adjustable width to adapt to different recording medium widths. The conveyor includes a return which returns the recording medium to the turn-over apparatus after being printed on one side. The return includes a traction roller pair and a lever to swivel one of the rollers in and out. A connecting channel leads from the traction rollers and includes guide baffles. Conveyor rollers are arranged along the connecting channel at less than the spacing of the folds in the folded recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which forms a desired toner image on a receiver are disclosed. The method comprises transferring marking toner particles from an intermediate transfer member to a receiver in the presence of an electric field which urges the marking toner particles toward said receiver. When transferring the marking toner particles to the intermediate transfer member, the surface of the intermediate transfer member contacts non-marking toner particles in some areas which receive marking toner. The marking toner comprises toner particles having transfer assisting particles adhering to the surfaces of the toner particles, said transfer assisting particles having a number average diameter of less than 0.4 .mu.m.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an image carrying member 2, a photosensitive member 9, a first voltage applying means 13, and an exposure means 5. The image carrying member 2 has an insulating layer 25 formed on a first conductive layer 23. The photosensitive member 9 has a photosensitive layer 93 formed on a second conductive layer 92. The photosensitive member 9 is supported so that the photosensitive layer 93 is opposed to the insulating layer 25 of the image carrying member 2. The first voltage applying means 13 applies a voltage between the first conductive layer 25 and the second conductive layer 92. A pattern-like surface electrode layer 98 is formed on the surface of the photosensitive layer 93 opposed to the image carrying member 2. A second voltage applying means 14 applies a bias voltage to the surface electrode layer 98.

Abstract: A method for controlling a temperature of a heating device in an image processing apparatus includes the steps of: setting the temperature of the heating device to a first temperature corresponding to a standby temperature upon activation of the image processing apparatus; increasing the temperature of the heating device to a second temperature corresponding to a fixing temperature upon activation of an image forming operation; increasing the temperature of the heating device to a third temperature higher than the second temperature upon consecutive activation of the image forming operation; and decreasing the temperature of the heating device back to the first temperature upon termination of the image forming operation.

Abstract: Maintenance performance is promoted and a vivid printed image is provided in an electrophotographic device capable of conducting color printing. Cartridges corresponding to different printing colors, each of which includes a photosensitive body, are stacked in a vertical direction. A recording sheet is fed along a sheet feeding path and brought into contact with the photosensitive bodies corresponding to the respective colors, and toner images of the respective printing colors are transferred on the recording sheet. A transfer belt for feeding the recording sheet is arranged in a front cover, and the transfer belt is exposed when the front cover is opened. Therefore, correcting a mis-feeding of the recording sheet is facilitated. Also, the respective cartridges are spaced apart such that optical paths are provided between the cartridges so that optical beams corresponding to the respective printing colors may be directly irradiated onto the corresponding photosensitive bodies.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a rotary developing device has a developing unit in which a plurality of developing chambers are arranged around an axis of rotation. The developing unit is rotated about the axis to bring one of the chambers to a developing position where an image carrier is located. In each of the chambers, part of a developer removed by a doctor blade is received by a guide and then released from the guide into the chamber. This part of the developer is agitated in the vertical direction together with the developer existing in the chamber by the rotation of the device. As a result, the developer is agitated and charged in a desirable manner.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming an image includes an endless belt member and an inner face cleaning member which is provided on an inner face of the endless belt member. The cleaning member captures deposits deposited on the inner face of the endless belt member and holds the captured deposits. The inner face cleaning member includes fibers densely arranged and projecting radially outward from the inner face cleaning member. The inner face cleaning member is fixed in a contact state so that a contact face does not move while the endless belt is moving.

Abstract: A thin film of electroless plated nonmagnetic nickel/phosphor (Ni/P) forms at least the external cylindrical surface of a hollow magnetic brush roller. The plated nonmagnetic film or layer is deposited at least one the exterior cylindrical surface of a hollow, electrically conductive, metal, nonmagnetic, aluminum roller or nonmagnetic stainless steel roller. Alternatively, the plated film is deposited on both the external and internal surfaces of such a development roller that is formed of an electrically conductive and nonmagnetic plastic material. The plated film is electrically conductive and relatively transparent to the magnetic fields that are generated by stationary permanent magnets that are positioned inside of the hollow and rotatable magnetic brush roller. The roller is intended for use in xerographic copiers, printers, and the like. The invention is usable both in the new-build of magnetic brush developers and in the refurbishing/recycling of existing magnetic brush developers apparatus.

Abstract: A recording apparatus according to the invention includes a first recording device arranged in a first path and a second arranged upstream of the first recording device. A second path has a first end and a second end. A first feed-direction-switching device is arranged upstream of the first recording device and the second path, and downstream of the second recording device. The first feed-direction-switching device directs the medium either to the first recording device or into the first end of the second path. A second feed-direction switching device is arranged downstream of the first recording device and directs the leading end of the medium into the second end of the second path when the first and/or second recording device completes recording of the information on the first side of the medium. The medium is then transported face down through the second path back to the first path for recording on the second side thereof. A method of recording includes first, second, and third mode operations.

Abstract: A toner discharging member is in contact with a developing sleeve at a position downstream to a developing region at which the developing sleeve (developer carrying member) confronts an electrostatic latent image carrier, extra toner returning to a toner supply region after the development is brought into contact with the discharging member and moves between the discharging member and the developing sleeve, a discharging bias voltage is applied to the toner discharging member, and the discharging bias voltage thus applied is controlled based on a toner charged state, an adhesion state of toner onto the electrostatic latent image carrier, a current flowing through a toner discharging member and others.

Abstract: In a color electrophotographic apparatus, a belt fixing device which includes a pressure roller and a plurality of belt transport rollers for rotating a belt are provided for fixing unfixed toner. In the belt fixing device, a heating roller and a driving roller, which constitute the belt transport rollers, are always kept in contact with the pressure roller so that a fixing belt is curved in contact with the pressure roller, and after fused toner has been cooled, the driving roller applies pressure to the toner to separate the toner from the belt. According to this arrangement, a small-sized fixing device is achieved in which no silicone oil is needed and in which the running stability of sheets and the fixing belt is superior so that a high-quality fixed image can be obtained. A color electrophotographic apparatus using such a fixing device is also achieved.

Abstract: A copying machine equipped with a PC counter for counting cumulative rotation time of a photoconductive drum, a development counter for counting cumulative drive time of a developing unit, a sensor for detecting deposition amount of toner onto the photoconductive drum, a sensor for detecting toner concentration in the developer, and a humidity sensor. Based on output values from the counters and sensors, a control section of the copying machine estimates the degree of consumption of a consumable article by using fuzzy inference method or neural network, and thereby decides whether the consumable article have reached an end of life.

Abstract: A heat development device for thermally developing a latent image formed on a sheet includes a sheet guide means in the form of a plate and a heating means for heating the sheet guide means. The heating means has a width more than a width of the sheet guide means and has both ends in a width direction each of which extends outwardly from a corresponding end of the sheet guide means. The heating means may preferably be divided into at least three portions which are controllable independently. The heat development device may preferably further includes a sheet pressing means for pressing the sheet against the sheet guide means. The heat development device is effective in improving a thermal distribution of the sheet guide means to provide an image having a uniform image density formed on the sheet when used in an image recording apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming method has a developing step of developing an electrostatic latent image by the use of a developer to form a toner image on an electrostatic latent image bearing member, a primary transfer step of transferring the toner image onto an intermediate transfer member to which a voltage is applied, and a secondary transfer step of transferring onto a transfer medium the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member, while a transfer means to which a voltage is applied is pressed against the transfer medium. The developer has a toner. The toner is a black toner having at least i) black toner particles formed of a binder resin with a colorant dispersed therein and ii) an inorganic fine powder. The black toner has the value of shape factor SF-1 of 110<SF-1.ltoreq.180, the value of shape factor SF-2 of 110<SF-2.ltoreq.140, and the value of ratio B/A of 1.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electrophotographic imaging process wherein a two-component developer is mixed and activated to obtain a uniform distribution and triboelectric charging of the toner, by interruption of the process and carrying out extra activation and mixing cycles as a function of image area coverage and/or distribution of the image over the image field.

Abstract: A developing device is provided which has a developing chamber, a toner container and a hopper portion all provided together on a revolving holding mechanism. A drive device is provided to revolve the driving mechanism and a stopping device is provided to stop this holding mechanism revolving movement at least to provide the developing chamber in a facing relationship to an image carrier. Moreover, the relative position of the toner chamber and the hopper portion are such that the hopper portion can be replenished with toner from the toner chamber at least once during a complete rotation of the revolving holding mechanism. Replenishment can occur independently of image formation, while the holding mechanism is revolving or during a pause in the revolving of the holding mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner carrier roller, a back electrode which is located so as to face the toner carrier roller, a voltage source for applying a voltage which generates an electric field for making toner fly from the toner carrier roller to the back electrode, a control electrode which has many openings through which the toner is allowed to pass and first and second conductive layers formed around the openings and is formed so that at least portions of the first and second conductive layers which surround the openings do not overlap each other in a direction where the toner flies from the toner carrier roller to the back electrode, and a voltage source for applying a voltage which controls the toner passing through the opening according to an image signal. As a result, an electrostatic capacity is hardly formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, thereby suppressing a fall in response characteristic to the toner flying control due to the electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus having a fixing film for use in an electrophotographic apparatus for fusing toner images to a copy substrate, the fixing film comprising a fluorinated carbon filled fluoroelastomer, and in embodiments, the fixing film comprises an optional substrate, an optional intermediate layer provided thereon, and an outer fluorinated carbon filled fluoroelastomer layer provided on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing device has a toner container having a toner outlet, and a receptacle having a mount portion for removably mounting the container. The insertion space of the mount portion and the toner outlet are each tapered such that the width in the up-and-down direction sequentially decreases toward the deepest end. In a developing device of the type causing the container to be rotated to bring the toner outlet into alignment with a toner inlet formed in the receptacle, the edge portion of the toner outlet is tapered to reduce a load during rotation and to ensure close contact at the end of the mounting of the container.

Abstract: A developer roll for use in an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in which a magnetic field attracts magnetic particles to form a magnetic brush on the periphery of a developer roll assembly. The developer roll assembly includes a sleeve and the developer roll. The developer roll is located at least partially within the sleeve. The developer roll includes a core having a core feature and a magnetic member having a member feature. The core feature and the member feature cooperate with each other so that the member and the core are mechanically interlocked with each other.